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Show The water needs of expanding towns and cities and of new industries in the basin can be met by salvag- ing waste, by importation of water from other areas, or by reducing the water supplies now used in irri- gation. The latter may be a desirable conversion in many instances because an acre-foot of water usually will directly support more people in indus- trial and municipal supplies than it will on an irri- gated farm. However, plans for the full develop- ment of the future economy, particularly for the future irrigated acreage, must take this fact into account. The total population of the Rio Grande Basin has increased about 37 percent since 1940. The people as well as the industries of the area are dependent upon surface or underground water to fill domestic, municipal, and industrial water supply needs. Pro- vision for an adequate and safe water supply, to meet existing needs and, as far as possible, to pro- vide for future expanded needs, is a fundamental requirement of the basin's water resources develop- ment. Rates of evaporation from free water sur- faces in the middle and lower Rio Grande Basin are high, reaching values of about 98 inches or 8 feet a year. As more reservoirs are impounded behind dams these losses of water supply will become very considerable. These losses should be taken into account in evaluating water use projects. Development of Hydroelectric Power Although the basin's potential hydroelectric power is not large when compared with other basins of the United States, development of this hydroelec- tric power, coordinated with fuel plants, will have a place in supplying growing power demands of the area. The generation of hydroelectric power should be provided wherever economically justified and con- sistent with use of water established by compacts or other water use requirements envisioned in the over-all basin plan. Recreation Full use of the water resources of the basin calls for special consideration of recreation facilities in the design of reservoir projects and in plans of operation. Public access to scenic areas along the shoreline of reservoirs should be provided where it will not interfere with operation of the project. Provisions for beaches, fishing grounds, and boat anchorages should be included in the plans, where feasible. Planning for recreation at projects should be integrated with planning of recreation facilities elsewhere in and near the basin. Fish and Wildlife The program for ultimate use of the Rio Grande Basin water resources should incorporate features to prevent damages to fish and wildlife. Where- ever practicable, areas of vegetative cover should be provided within and adjacent to reservoir bound- aries to replace existing wildlife cover and resting places, which would be inundated. Where prac- ticable, reservoir operation schedules should comply with fish and wildlife needs, especially during hatching seasons. Present values of trout fishing and big game hunting in the mountains should be maintained where feasible. Water salvage through drainage operations will conflict with fish and wild- life that have come to areas made swampy by aggra- dation of river sediments. Relative importance of use must determine what works are done; but alter- native sites for fish and wildlife should be fully con- sidered. These resources are important to the region. Pollution Abatement Development of water resources in the Rio Grande Basin calls for pollution abatement and sewerage rectification to correct or to prevent deterioration of water quality. The objective is to improve health conditions, to provide abatement measures including salvage of sewage effluent for further use, and to maintain safe quality of water through a reasonable degree of sewerage treatment. Mosquito Control Unless adequate precautionary measures are taken, reservoirs may give rise to increased mosquito density. This is important because of possible transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. To pro- tect health and welfare as an integral part of over- all planning, design, construction, and operation of all water facilities, antimosquito measures are necessary. Transportation The economic development of any area is related to its transportation facilities. Due to the unco- 911610-51- -24 347 |
